The Phoenix Fuel Masters went 0-3 in preseason games, but coach Louie Alas believes their upgraded roster will help them realize their goals for the 2019 season.
Calvin Abueva, Matthew Wright, Doug Kramer and JC Intal are back to provide leadership for Phoenix, but the entry of new recruits Alex Mallari and Dave Marcelo add depth to Phoenix.
Mallari and Marcelo were traded to Phoenix in exchange for NLEX's No. 4 pick in the 2018 Gatorade PBA Draft.
With four PBA championships tucked under his belt, Mallari will be utilized as a stabilizer at the backcourt, while Marcelo, now playing on his fifth PBA team, can bring size and rebounding.
Alas, however, was quick to point out that team defense will still be the key ingredient for any team that intends to go all out in winning a title.
"The barometer of winning is defense. That's what I always remind my players because we can win against teams, but if we want to win a championship, we need to play defense," Alas told ESPN5.
Alas added they are currently working on improving the team chemistry after adding new pieces.
"We had major additions in the team that's why (the 0-3 record in preseason games). If you have major additions, what you need to work on is chemistry," he explained.
But compared to last season when Phoenix had to rely on his undersized bigs to do the dirty work inside, this time, the team added rookie Jorey Napoles from the Technological Institute of the Philippines to help out Abueva, Perkins and Marcelo in the post.
"We're deeper this year and defensively, I like it now because we can make defensive switches if Alex plays the point. Now we just have to work on our double-teaming schemes," he added.
Alas also hopes the playoff debacle in the 2018 Governors' Cup has made the team wiser and more mature heading to their season-opening game against Meralco this Wednesday.